• Sunday-What'sUP May 18 - 06:32 am

For many years now, the Pasty Cam has had a memorial at the end of each month, listing the names of folks we care about. Although it is mid-month, today's Shoebox Memory pictures are in memory of the artist who drew them, Ray Lahikainen. It recently came to my attention that Ray passed away toward the end of last month, which we had missed for the April memorial.

We have featured Ray's art before, receiving many notes of appreciation for his work. The last time I spoke with Ray was several years ago in Daryl Laitila's house when Ray was delivering the second painting above. Daryl - who herself has been gone several years now - lived in the house where our Bridge Cam resides. It also happens to be roughly the same point of view in the painting.

From his obituary:

Raymond Lahikainen, 86, of Houghton went home to be with the Lord on April 28, 2015.

Ray was born on February 17, 1929, in Dollar Bay, a son of the late Otto and Rose (Jackola) Lahikainen. He attended Dollar Bay High School.

He was a veteran during World War II, assigned to the Army Armored School.

On April 3, 1948, he married his dear wife June Bodi. They were married for 59 years before she passed away on September 2, 2007.

Ray and June lived in the Chicago suburbs for 42 years before returning to the Copper Country in 1991. His passion for art spanned a career of more than 67 years. Ray graduated from the American Academy of Art, was employed as a designer for an industrial design firm, owned a fine art and design studio, and was the director of visual arts and museum curator for the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.

He pursued oil painting in his retirement years. Local scenes were often favorites. He said of his art, “I try and portray beauty in such a way that will uplift people. My Christian beliefs feed my spirit to do things that are encouraging.”

Ray was devoted to serving the Lord. He was a very active member and elder at Moody Church in Chicago and was a member of Bethany Baptist Church in Dollar Bay.

His family was always number one with Ray. He cherished his wife and the time he spent with his children. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather

Beautiful pictures! My sympathy to his
family.

Kind of reminds me of Norman Rockwell. Well done paintings.

great life and great paintings

That man had talent dripping from his fingers! I
remember going to a show of his...he painted my
friend's father, Orv. Honest...it was better than a
photo....Ray's work was incredible. God's Blessings
to all.

Can anyone identify the location of the bottom picture?

The first picture reminds me of a scene in The Walton's.

I do believe the bottom pic is one of W. Houghton, down by where the Aspirus doctors' offices were located in the brown building on the right. Now they have moved to a new location by WalMart. Wasn't it once also a railroad station for passengers? His pictures hung in the office, beautiful. R.I.P. Ray

I do believe it's in W. Houghton. The brown building on the right used to be a railroad station later converted to a doctors' office, which has now moved to WalMart. There might have been other businesses in the brown building but these are the ones familiar to me. His paintings hung in the office and were beautiful. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. R.I.P. Ray

The bottom painting is the Copper Range Railroad (C.R.R.R.) roundhouse. It was located near what was the bottom of Van Orden’s hill. My landmarks changed when M-26 was rerouted up the hill.

What beautiful work! Just amazing!
I sure would love to have a print of all of them, but especially the top one.

Thanks for all the responses. The Van Orden coal dock. Now
I remember!

Now chutes and ladders!